25. Shadows Looming

Elliot returned to the stand, his heart still racing from the encounter with the merchant. The air felt thick around him, each breath tinged with lingering anger and unease. He tried to shake it off, focusing on the customers lined up, but the weight of the merchant's threats clung to him like a shadow.

Later that evening, Elliot and Billy made their way to the tavern for their shift. The familiar sounds of laughter and clinking mugs filled the air, but Elliot found it hard to relax. Jorin, ever observant, caught sight of him and approached.

"Everything alright, kid?" he asked, concern etched on his face. "You want to talk about what happened today?"

Elliot shook his head, forcing a smile. "I'm fine, really. Just a long day." He turned back to his work, but the unease lingered like a storm cloud.

As the evening wore on, the tavern buzzed with life, but Elliot's thoughts kept drifting back to the confrontation. He felt a nagging sense of dread.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room not far from the tavern, a group of thugs gathered. Shadows danced on the walls as they leaned over a table, grinning and laughing.

"Now we can finally get our hands on that runt, Billy." One of them sneered, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "I thought we'd have to keep our distance because of Jorin, but with that altercation today, this is our chance."

"Yeah, with the 'Iron Hand Merchantry' causing a scene, we can keep Jorin away for a good while," another thug added, a sinister glint in his eyes. "And that employer of ours has agreed to double the amount he promised. It'll be worth it."

The room erupted in malicious laughter as they plotted their next move, unaware of the storm brewing just outside.

"I am an idiot," Billy said watching Elliot serve the customers, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in my stomach. He wore a forced smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. They were clouded with something heavy, something that made my heart ache for him. I thought back to all the good times we'd shared—our laughter echoing in the bakery, the warm smell of fresh bread surrounding us, and those nights spent huddled together in that old horse shed, wrapped in blankets to ward off the cold.

Even if he'd never admit it, I felt the bond we had, like brothers. We had each other's backs, and I would do anything to protect him. But today was different. I could see the shadows creeping across his face, and it reminded me too much of that day when my village was raided. The same look of absolute horror had crossed his features when he faced that elf.

I felt a knot tightening in my chest, wanting to reach out, to pull him back from that dark place in his mind. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, even if it meant shaking him until he spoke. The way he had gone from happy to haunted in an instant sent a chill down my spine.

Just then, Jorin came in from the back, his presence a warm reassurance in the tense air. He strode over and patted me on the back, his smile comforting. "Don't worry, Billy. He's very strong. Give him some space. He'll tell you when he's ready."

I nodded, though my heart was still heavy. I knew Jorin meant well, but I wanted to scream at Elliot to open up, to share whatever burden he was carrying. Instead, I stood there, feeling helpless and frustrated, watching as Elliot forced himself to laugh and joke with the customers, all while the shadows deepened around him.

Jorin left after ruffling my hair, and I glanced back at Elliot again. I wanted to reach out, to tell him it was okay to be scared, that he didn't have to hide behind that smile. But I didn't know how to say it.

Taking a deep breath, I turned away from the counter, holding my arms tightly around myself. I made a silent promise to always be there for him, no matter what darkness threatened to engulf us. I would support him, stand by him, and if it came to it, I would fight for him. With renewed determination, I slipped into the kitchen to help prepare for the next wave of customers.